Electrically controlled cutoff device for tubing



y 1951 D. F. BlSSE-LL ETAL 2,554,555

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CUTOFF' DEVICE FOR TUBING Filed April 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 K5 LI k m E I k l/V l/E/V 7055 Q 00/70 F 5/1556 3 Clarence Pfieo'ar/ckson g By their al/omeys I D. F. BISSELL ETI'AL ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CUTOFF DEVICE FOR TUBING May 29, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1947 Clarence PFreder/ckson By I/re/r af/omeys y 29, 1951 D. F. BISSELL ETAL 2,554,555

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CUTOF'F DEVICE FOR TUBING y 9 1951 D. F. BISSELL EI'AL 2,554,555

-- ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED CUTOFF DEVICE FOR TUBING Filed April 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 42 75a F/G /6 I 7 EU 7 36 75 00/10 F fillssel/ Clarence R F rederlbkson By their affomeys Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ELECTRECALLY CONTROLLED CUTOFF DEVICE FOR TUBING Application April 16, 1947, Serial N 0. 741,928

11 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for cutting tubing and more particularly for cutting spirallywound tubing made from strips of metal and flexible material. It is an object of this invention to provide a cut-off device of improved construction for cutting into sections continuously made collapsible tubing formed from strips of metal and flexible material of uniform length. It is a further object of this invention to provide an electrically controlled cut-oif device of the type described which may be readily adjusted to change the length of the tube sections cut oif.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cut-01f device in accordance with this invention applied to a machine for making tubing in continuous lengths, the electrical circuits for the cut-off device being omitted and only such parts of the tube forming machine being shown as are necessary for an understanding of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of structure shown in Fig; 1 showing the connection of the drive mechanism for the cut-off device to the driving mechanism of the tube forming machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure of Fig. 1 showing only the drive mechanism for the cut-off device as it extends from one side to the other beneath the bed plate of the tube forming machine;

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of the clutch operating means of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the cuofi device shown detached from the tube forming machine, parts being broken away to show other parts more clearly;

Fig. 6 is a partial view in elevation of the trough to which the tube is discharged from the tube forming machine;

Fig. '7 is a view in end. elevation of the trough of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the manner of operating the controlling switch for the cut-off device by the tube as it is formed;

Fig. 9 is a plan view, drawn to a larger scale, showing the relation of the tube to the controlling switch, part of the switch casing being removed;

Figs. 10 and 11 are front and side elevation, respectively, of the cam controlling the cut-off means for the metal of the tubing;

Figs. 12 and 13 are front and side elevation, respectively, of one of the pair of cams controlling the cut-off means for the fabric of the tube;

Figs. 14 and 15 are views similar to Figs. 12 and 13, respectively, of the other cam of the pair; and

Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 are circuit diagrams showing various conditions of the electrical circuit controlling the cut-01f device.

In the drawings, the invention is shown in connection with the machine l for forming tubing from a spirally wound metal strip 2 engaged with opposite edges of a fabric or other flexible strip 3. The machine I is mounted on a bed plate i and comprises rolls 5 which shape the metal strip and secure an edge of themetal strip to the fabric strip. The rolls 6 are operated by suitable gearing t. Gearing I0, drivenfrom the gearing t, rotates a mandrel, not shown, about which the strips are formed into a tube, in a known manner which is not per se a part of this invention and therefore need not be detailed. The formation of the tube causes the length of the tube to be forced outwardly along a trough 12 formed by a pair of parallel inverted angle irons as hereinafter more fully described.

To sever the tube it is necessary to cut the metallic spiral element 2 and also to cut the flexible or fabric element 3. By the means fully described below the fabric is out spirally around the circumferenceof the tube and the metal is cut longitudinally parallel to the tube axis. The longitudinal cut necessarily intersects the peripheral cut at the start and finish of one convolution.

To cut the metallic element there is provided a chisel cutter it, Fig. 5, secured in a holder I6 which is pivotally mounted at the lower end of a vertically movable rod t8, the rod 18 being mounted in casing 25. To press the rod t8 downwardly and cause the cutter Hi to sever the metal strip of the tubing, a spring i9 is confined between a shoulder on the rod is and the upper end of a recess in the casing 25. The casing 20' is suitably supported on a bracket 22 carried by the bed plate i. Secured to the upper end of the rod 58 is a collar 25 carrying a pin Elton which is journaled a roller 26 positioned tobear upon a rotary disc cam 28.

The cam 23 is formed with a depression as at 28a which, when it passes beneath the roller 2 5, permits the spring to operate the cutter Hi to sever the metal strip of the tube. Due .tothe pivotal mounting of the cutter holder I5; the cutter it pivots with the rotation of the tube during the formation thereof and does not interfere with such rotationi. e., with the continuous formation of the tube. Rotation of the cam 23 beyond the depression 23a brings the roller 26 to its normal elevation and withdraws the cutter l4 from its position in engagement with the tube.

To cut the fabric of the tube there is provided a circular cutter 3i) adjustably mounted on one end of a bell crank lever 32 which is pivotally mounted at 33 on the bracket 22. To the other end of the bell crank lever 32 ther is adjustably secured a roller 34* positioned to engage the plurality of rotary disc cams 36 and 31. The cams 28, as and 31 are secured by bolts 39 to a gear 38 rotatively mounted on a stub shaft 39 fixed in the casing 29. The camsfili and 37 are similar in shape and are provided with elongated openings as at 36c and 31a, respectively, to receive the bolts 39 so that the cam surfaces may be relatively shifted. The cam surfaces are formed with a circular portion of greatest radius as at 362) and 31b, respectively, with short circular portions of,

slightly less radius than the portions 361) and 31?), as at 36c and 310. Portions 35d and 31d of less radius than the portions 350 and 310 extend from the portions 350 and 310 to portions 36c and tie, respectively, which are of the same radius as the portions 350 and 37:3, respectively. The radii of the similar portions of the cams are the same and the radii ar of such dimension that the roll 3- 1 when in engagement with cam portions 35?) and 3% will hold the cutter 39 from engagement with the tube. When the portions 3E0 and 310 pass beneath th roll 34, the cutter 3i] is lowered but not so as to engage the tubing. In this position of the roll, the extension 320, of the bell crank 32 permits the spring Gil to lift a switch control arm 4i and change the position of the contacts of a switch '32 as will be fully explained hereinafter. When the cams move so as to place the portions 35d and 31d beneath the roll 35, the spring it presses the cutter 36 into engagement with the fabric of the tube causing the cutter 38 to sever the fabric against the mandrel but no further change is made in the contacts of the switch 12 at this time. When the cam portions 38c and tile pass beneath the roll 3 the bell crank 32 is operated to lift the cutter 38 from the fabric. The movement of the portions 3% and 3% past the roller 34 raises the cutter 36 further and engagement of the extension 32a with the member 45 operates the contacts of,

th switch 2 at this time. The elongated openings 35a and 3M permit relative adjustment of the positions of the various depressed portions of the cams so as to accurately determine the time during which the cutter 36 engages the fabric of the tube, such adjustment being made so that cutter 30 cuts the fabric of the tube for one complete revolution of the tube. The position of the depression 28a with respect to the depressions 36d, 31d, and 36c, 31c when the cams are assembled with the gear 38 is such that the depression 28a passes beneath the roll 26 immediately upon completion of the cutting of the fabric so that the metal portion of the tube is severed immediately after the severing of the fabric, thus completing the severance of the section of the tube. To operate the cams 28, 36 and 37, the gear 3 is driven by a pinion 33 fixed on a shaft 44 journaled in a box 65 secured to the bracket 22. On the opposite end of the shaft 44 is fixed a beveled gear 46 which meshes with a beveled gear 3? fixed on a Vertically arranged shaft 28 journaled in the bracket 22 and projecting beneath the bed plate Q. To the lower end of the shaft 48 is fixed a beveled gear 49 which meshes with a beveled gear 50 fixed on a shaft 5| driven through clutch 52 from asha-ft 53, the shafts 5| and 53 being 4 journaled in brackets 5 secured under the bed plate 4. The shaft 53 has fixed thereon a gear 55 which meshes with a gear 58 fixed on a vertically arranged shaft 5? journaled in an extension of one of the brackets 55 and connected through a universal coupling 53 and nut 59 to the lower end of a shaft of the gearing it which drives the mandrel. Driving the cams which control the cutting mechanism from the driving mechanism for the mandrel permits of arranging the operation of the cutting mechanism to be independent of the diameter to the tubing. That is, th cams controlling the roll 3d are adjusted so that the cutter 38 engages the fabric during one revolution of the mandrel and such adjustment will obtain irrespective of the diameter of the tube formed.

The trough i2, upon which the tube rests as it is delivered from the mandrel, comprises angles l2a secured to slotted cross members 6%] adjustably secured in position by the bolts 35 which secure the cross members to the adjustable standards (52 carried upon the floor or other suitable support. The standardstz are spaced by a member B l on which is adjustably mounted a bracket 65.

ihe brackettt has adjustably mounted thereon a bracket 88 carrying an electric switch it positioned so as to have the operating member thereof engaged by the tube as it is forced along the trough I 2. As shown in Fig. 9, such a switch may comprise a casing liia having a spring operating member l! engaging a plunger 72 which engages contact 720;. The spring member ii normally permits the contact 62a to engage with the contact 53b but when engaged by the end of the tube, the spring member H is operated to interrupt the contact between contacts Ma and E312 and engage contact 82a with contact 730:. When the tube is removed from the trough, the spring H is released fromthe pressure of the tube and permits the return of the contact iZa to engage the contact 73?). The bracket 65, being adjustable on the member 6Q, permits of the shifting of the switch i6 so as to have the spring member ll operated when the desired length of tubing has been formed. The switch 42 operated by the extension 320. of the bell crank lever 32 may be similar in construction to the switch it, it being sufficient that various contacts are made in the different positions of the switch. To that end switch 42 may have its movable contact bridge different pairs of stationary contacts as shown in Figures 16 to 19 in different switch positions.

In order to easily identify the circuits and describe their functioning and operation, one set 42 of contacts of the switch 42 may be considered as primary contacts and the other set (428) as secondary contacts. The sets are alternately bridged by the movable contact 42p. The primary contacts are in. circuit with the contacts 13a of the switch ill; and the secondary contacts are in circuit with the contacts 531) of switch it while the movable contact 12a is connected with the solenoid l5 which in turn is connected with the power line. The solenoid 15 is supported from a member it secured to the bed plate 4 and having its armature connected to a yoke 18 arranged to operate the clutch 52. When the solenoid I5 is energized, the clutch 52 is engaged and the cams 28, 36 and 3? are operated; and when the solenoid i5 is deenergized the spring shifts the yoke 73 to release the clutch 52 and permit the cams to remain at rest.

Secondary contacts 428 of switch 42 are in circuit with the contacts 1315. Hence the solenoid 1 5 can be energized when either the primary branch circuit, (including contacts 62;] and Ha, Ha) is closed, or when the secondary branch (including contacts 628 and 73b, 72a) is closed. In the circuit controlled by the secondary contacts of switch :22 is a solenoid operated valve 82 in an air-line ti arranged to supply air under pressure from a suitable source of supply to a nozzle 86 arranged to direct the jet against the severed section of the tube resting in the trough and remove the section of the tube from the trough. The circuit through the air control solenoid 82 is completed when the secondary contacts 623 are closed.

During the making of all but the last convolution of a tube, the earns are stationary and have their portions 360 and 370 engaged with roll 3d so that switch 42 is operated by its spring it? to close the primary contacts 4211. Switch it is not yet acted upon by the tube and is held closed by its spring. Hence the switch is open as shown in Fig. 16. The tube, upon attaining the desired length, operates switch iii as shown in Fig. 1'7, completing the primary circuit which energizes solenoid lEi, operating the clutch 52 and starting operation of the cams 8, 36 and 3?. Operation of the cams bring portions 36d and did to roll 36, causing the knife st to engage and cut the fabric. With roll 3 on the lowest cam portions 36d and 316., the position of switch 62 is not changed and the cams continue operation during one complete revolution of the tube. Upon completion of the cutting of the fabric, the circular cutter is lifted from the fabric by the roll 3d riding up on the cam portions 35c and Bic. At the same time the depression 28a in the cam 28 is brought beneath the roll 26 so that the chisel cutter is operated to out the metal strip. Then while the switch iii remains unaffected roller 3 rides on cam portions 35b, S'i'b shifting switch 12 to close its secondary contacts and open its primary contacts as shown in Fig. 18. This deenergizes solenoid l5 disengaging the clutch 52 and, stopping operation of the cams 28, 3t and 3! and energizes solenoid valve 82, operating the valve to supply air pressure to remove the severed tube section from the trough. Removal of the tube section permits the switch iii to return to de-activated position and complete the secondary circuit for solenoid 75, as shown in Fig. 19. Completing this circuit, recloses the clutch and causes operation of the cams 2t, 3t and 37 which operate until roll 34 engages cam portions 360, Sic, restoring switch 6. 2 to initial position opening the secondary circuit contacts 325 and interrupting the circuit to the solenoids l5 and 82 as shown in Fig. 16, thus stopping operation of the cams and closing the air valve. Meanwhile, another section of the tube is being formed and the parts retain the positions indicated in Fig. 16 until the tube engages the switch it whereupon the cycle is repeated.

Although tubing having a fabric strip has been mentioned to simplify explanation of the invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is applicable to tubing made of strips of other flexible materials beside fabric.

Many modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described and illustrated.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a machine forming a tube of united spirals of metal and of flexible material, of a cut-off device having separate cutting means, means operating said cut-off device from said tube forming machine for cutting first the flexible portion of said tube and then said metallic portion, and means operated by said tube for controlling the operation of said cutting means.

2. The combination with a machine forming a tube of united spirals of metallic and of flexible material, of a cut-off device having separate cutting means ior the metal and for the flexible material, a rotatable cam controlling said metal cutting means, a plurality of rotatable relatively adjustable cams controlling the other cutting means, means for rotating said cams from said machine, means operated by said formed tube controlling the operation of said cutting means, and means operated by said relatively adjustable cams cooperating with said tube operated means in controlling the operations of said cams.

3. The combination with a machine forming a tube of united pirals of metal and of flexible material, of a cut-off device having separate cutting means for the metal and for the flexible material, rotatable cam means controlling said cutting means, means for rotating said cam means from the machine, means operated by said formed tube controlling the operation of said cutting means, and means operated by said cam means cooperating with said tube cutting means in controlling the operation of said cam means.

4. The combination with a machine forming a tube of united spirals of metal and of flexible materials of a cut-oil device having separate cuttin means for the metal and for the flexible material, rotatable cam means controlling said cutting means, means for rotating said cam means from the machine, means operated by said formed tube controlling the operation of said cutting means, and means controlled by said cam means for removing severed tube sections.

5. The combination with a tube forming machine of a cut-01f device for formed tube lengths comprising rotatable cam means, means for rotating said cam means from the machine, cutting means operable during cutting without movement lengthwise of the tube, means operated by said formed tube for initiating the operation of said cut-ofi device, and means controlled by said cam means and separate from the cut-oii starting means for stopping the operation of said cut-off device.

6. The combination with a tube forming machine of a cut-off device comprising rotatable cam means, means for rotatin said cam means from the machine, means operated by the formed tube for initiating the operation of said cut-off device, and means operated by said cam means for controlling the stopping of said cam means and the removal of the severed tube section from the machine, said tube operated means initiating the return of said cam means to its initial position upon removal of the severed tube sections.

7. The combination with a tube iorming machine of a cut-ofi device comprising rotatable cam means, means for rotating said cam means from the machine, means operated by the formed tube for initiating the operation of said cut-off device, and means operated by said cam means for controlling the stopping of the cutting operation and the removal of the severed tube section, said tube operated means initiating the return of said cam means to its initial position upon removal of the severed tube section, and said cam operated means cooperatin with said tube oper- 7 ated means to stop rotation of said cam means in its initial position.

8. The combination with a tube forming machine of a cut-off device comprising rotatable cam means, means for rotating said cam means from the machine, electrical means controlled by the formed tube for initiating the operation of said cut-ofi device, and electrical means controlled by said cam means for stopping said cut-ofi' device and removing the severed tube section, said tube controlled means initiating the return of said cut-off device to its initial position upon removal of the severed tube section, and said cam controlled means stopping said cut-oil device in its initial position.

9. A device for severing continuously formed rotating tubin comprised of a metallic spiral between the convolutions of which is flexible material, said device comprising mechanism to sever the metallic spiral, mechanism coordinated with said severing mechanism to cut the flexible material while said tubing is rotating, clutch means operable to make active said severing and cutting mechanisms, means operated by a desired length of tube to engage said clutch means, and means operated by said cutting mechanism to disengage said clutch means and deactivate said cutting and severing means.

10. A device for severing continuously formed rotating tubing comprised of a metallic spiral between the convolutions of Which is flexible material, said device comprising mechanism to sever the metallic spiral, mechanism coordinated with said severing mechanism to cut the flexible material while said tubing is rotating, normally inactive drivin means for said severing and cutting mechanisms, electrical means operated by a desired length of tube to make active said driving means, and electrical means operated by said driving means to de-activate said driving means.

11. In combination with a machine forming tubing comprised of a metallic spiral between the convolutions of which is flexible material, a cutoff device comprising peripheral cutting means operable to cut the flexible material without movement lengthwise of the tube by said cutting means during the cutting, rotatable cam means, means for rotating said cam means from the machine, means operated by said formed tube for initiating the operation of said cut-off device, and means controlled by said cam means and separate from the cut-off starting means for stopping the operation of said cut-01f device.

DANA F. BISSELL. CLARENCE P. FREDERICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

